Power yielding and receiving means.



PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907. P. w. HARRIS.

POWER YIELDING AND RECEIVING MEANS. APIfLIOATIOH FILED JULYIB, 1906.

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INVENTOR BY @A DQLSM ATTORNEY nu: NORRIS PETERS co., wasmovcrmv, n. c.

PATBNTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

P. w. HARRIS. 7 POWER YIELDING AND RECEIVING MEANS.

APPL IOATION FILED JULY 16, 1906.

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WITNESSES:

@M HM FORD W. HARRIS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

POWER YIELDING AND RECEIVING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Original application filed February 19,1906, Serial No. 301,956. Divided and this application filed July 16, 1906. Serial No. 326,475-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FORD W. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Power Yielding and Receiving Means, of which the following is a specification, this application being a division of my application, Serial No. 301,956, filed February 19, 1906.

My invention relates to fluid-pressme-actuated and fluid-compressing devices, and particularly to such as may serve either as prime movers or compressors.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved structure and arrangement of the parts of a device of the character indicated, and, also, to provide means whereby the device may be caused to change its function automatically in accordance with its speed of operation.

While the invention is capable of other and more extended uses and applications, it may be advantageously employed in connection with mine and similar hauls in which descending loaded cars are caused to raise empty cars. When so employed, the device is operated as a fluid-compressor by the excess of power exerted by the descending loaded cars over that necessary to raise the empty cars, and as a prime mover for the haul when there are insufficient loaded cars available to actuate the haul. The speed of operation of the haul varies with the capability of the haul of receiving and yielding power, and the device is adapted to change automatically from a compressor to a prime mover, and vice versa, according to its speed of operation.

The combination of the present device with a mine haul orother similarly operated means forms the subject-matter of an application, Serial No. 301,956, filed February 19, 1906, of which this application is a division.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan view of a system and a device embodying my invention, a portion of the structure being broken away for the sake of clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a view, in cross-section, on the line 11I1 of Fig. 1 and of the connections of the device to suitable means for storing energy. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in cross-section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view, in elevation and in section, on the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

One form of mine haul to which my invention may be conveniently applied, comprises two endless chains 1. and 2 that may pass over sprocket wheels 3 and 4, respectively, at the entrance to a mine and that are adapted, respectively, to lower loaded cars from the mine entrance to the tipple below and to raise empty cars from the tipple to the mine entrance. The sprocket wheels 3 and 4 may be operatively connected by means of suitable shafting and a set of bevel gears 5, 6 and 7 so that the power exerted by the loaded cars upon the chain 1 in passing down the haul may serve to operate the sprocket 4 and the chain 2 to draw the empty cars up the haul. The gear 6 may be operatively connected by any suitable means, such as a belt 8, to a crank shaft 9 of a device that is adapted either to convert energy into a form which may be conveniently stored or to utilize the stored energy in operating as a prime mover for the haul.

The crank shaft 9 is connected in different angular relations to pistons 10, that operate in cylinders 11, the latter communicating by means of inlet ports 12 and 13 with a valve chest 14 in a manner in all respects similar to that in which the cylinders and valve chests of ordinary steam engines communicate. A valve 15 is connected in operative relation to the crank shaft 9 in the usual manner, by means of a connecting rod 16 and a governor 17, (Fig. 4) which, in the present instance, is somewhat differently constructed from those which are employed in most steam engines. Many forms of governors suitable to the specific use may be devised, though the one which I have found convenient to employ, comprises a slotted eccentric 18, that is mounted upon an extension of the crank shaft 9, and a pair of weighted levers 20 and 21, one end of each of which is pivotally secured at 22 to a flywheel 23 and to the eccentric 18 by means of links 24, the outer free ends being normally retained in the position shown by means of a spring 25. Thus when the speed of rotation of the crank shaft is less than a predetermined limit, as will occur when the device operates as a prime mover for the haul, the eccentric operates to give a reciprocating motion to the valve 15 in the manner in which such operations occur in ordinary steam engines. However, when the loaded cars are operating the haul, the excess of power developed may be sufficient to cause the crank shaft to rotate at a speed greater than the aforesaid predetermined limit, whereupon the outer, frce ends of the weighted levers 20 and 21 will be moved away from each other by centrifugal force against the resiliency of the spring 25, and the eccentric 18 will be moved to the position indicated in dotted lines, or to an intermediate position depending upon the speed of the crank shaft. The eccentric thereupon becomes concentric or approaches concentricity with the crank shaft so that reciprocating motion of the valve 15 is precluded or reduced. These parts are so adjusted with reference to each other that, when the eccentric occupies the position shown in dotted lines, both of the inlet ports 12 and 13 to the cylinder 11 will be closed by the valve.

The device differs further from an ordinary steam engine in that passages 28 and 29 that communicate with the cylinders 11 are provided at opposite ends thereof, each of the passages being separated from chambers 30 and 31 by means of pressure-actuated valves 32 and 33, respectively. The valves 32 are arranged to admit passage of fluid from the chamber 30 to the cylinder 11 when the pressure within the cylinder 11 falls below that within the chamber 30, and the valves 33 are so constructed that they will admit the passage of fluid from the cylinder 11 to the chamber 31 only when the pressure within the cylinder 11. exceeds that within the chamber 31, as will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 3. The chamber 30 is connected by means of piping 34 or other suitable means with exhaust ports 35. from the valve chests l4 and also with a low pressure storage reservoir 36, and the'chamber 31 communicates by means of piping 37 with the valve chests 14 and with a high pressure storage reservoir 38. The two storage reservoirs 36 and 38 may be connected by means of a suitable pressureactuated valve 39 which operates to admit of passage of fluid from the high pressure reservoir 38 to the low pressure reservoir 36 \vhenthe pressure in the reservoir 38 exceeds a predetermined limit. When thus arranged, the air or other fluid may be used over and over again and all difficulties that may be occasioned by reason of moisture condensations Will be obviated, though, if desired, the low pressure storage reservoir may be omitted and the low pressure chamber 30 may communicate directly with the atmosphere.

From what has been shown and described, it will be readily understood that when the power exerted by the loaded cars in passing down the haul is in excess of that required to draw the empty cars up the haul, the crank shaft 9 will be rotated at such a speed that the eccentric 18 will be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, or to some intermediate position, and the reciprocating motion that is imparted to the valve 15 will vary in proportion to the speed of the crank shaft; that is, to the excess of power. The device may then operate through a part or all of its stroke, as an air compressor, as will be understood presently. If the piston 10 is moved from the position shown, to the right, the fluid in the righthand end of the chamber will be compressed and forced into the passage 29 against the valve 33 which opens when the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit and admits the compressed air to the chamber 31 and the storage reservoir 38. At the same time, the pressure of the air in the left-hand end of the cylinder is reduced and when a predetermined difference of pressure exists between the fluid in the passage 28 and that in the chamber 30, the valve 32 will open and permit the entrance of the fluid at low pressure from the reservoir 36. When the piston 10 is moved from the right-hand end of the cylinder to the lefthand end, the valve 32, that communicates with the passage 28, opens when the pressure exceeds the predetermined limit, and the valve 32 at the other end of the cylinder opens and admits air at low pressure into the passage 29.

If the power exerted by the loaded cars in passing down the haul is not in excess of that required to draw the empty cars up the haul, as may occur, for instance, in the evening, when all of the loaded cars have been lowered to the tipple, the speed of the crank shaft 9 will fall and the eccentric 18 will approach or occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. A larger amount of reciprocating motion will then be imparted to the valve 15, and fluid at high pressure will be supplied from the reservoir 38 and the chamber 31 through the piping 37 to the valve chest 14, the device then being operated like an ordinary steam engine as a prime mover for the haul.

Thus it is seen from the description and the drawings that when there is an excess of power supplied by the mine haul, the device operates to store the energy in a form which may be readily utilized, and that when the mine haul is no longer operated automatically by the loaded cars it may be operated at least for a period sufiicient to enable clearing the tipple of empty cars, by supplying the stored energy to the device in order to cause it to operate as a prime mover. It is further seen that the change in the character of the device is caused to occur automatically, according to the speed of operation of the haul, and that it may therefore serve to keep the haul in continuous operation between definite speed limits. The compressed air may also be utilized, if desired, in the ventilation of the mine, or for applying a brake, such as that shown at 40, or in any other manner.

Obviously the structural details and arrangements of the parts and the manner in which the device is applied may be modified within considerable limits without altering the mode of operation of the invention or departing'materially from its spirit, and I desire that all such modifications be included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, and a valve, that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of the passages, and means that govern communication thereof with the passages.

2. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of the passages, means that govern communication thereof with the passages, and means for connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber.

3. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with the opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of the passages, means that govern communication thereof with the passages, means for connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber, and means for connecting the low pressure chamber to the exhaust port.

4. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of a governor for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respec tively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of the passages, means for effecting communication between the low pressure chamber and the said passages when the pressure within the cylinder falls below that within the low pressure chamber and means for effecting communication between the cylinder and the high pressure chamberwhen the pressure within the cylinder exceeds that in the high pressure chamber.

5. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of a governor for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of the passages, means for elfecting communication between the low pressure chamber and the said passages when the pres sure within the cylinder falls below that within the low pressure chamber, means for effecting communication be tween the cylinder and the high pressure chamber when the pressure within the cylinder exceeds that in the high pressure chamber, and means connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber.

(3. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of a governor for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, means for storing fluid at high pressure, means for governing communication between the cylinder and the storage means that are operated only when the pressure within the cylinder exceeds that within the storage means, means connecting the valve chest and the high pressure storage means and means for governing communication of the cylinder with a source of fluid at low pressure that will operate only when the pressure within the cylinder falls below that of the source.

7. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, and a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder. high and low pressure chambers, and means that gov ern communication thereof with the passages.

S. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston. a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest. of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, means that govern communication thereof with the passages, and means for connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber.

f). The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of a governor for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectivcly, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, means for effecting communication between the low pressure chamber and the said passages when the pressure within the cylinder falls below that within the low pressure chamber and means for effecting communication between the cylinder and the high pressure chamber when the pressure within the cylinder exceeds that in the high pressure chamber.

10. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, a valve that governs the admission of the fluid to the cylinder and a valve chest having an exhaust port, of a governor for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, passages that communicate, respectively, with opposite ends of the cylinder, high and low pressure chambers, means for effecting communication between the low pressure chamber and the said passages when the pressure within the cylinder falls below that within the lower pressure chamber, means for effecting communication between the cylinder and the high pressure chamber when the pressure within the cylinder excoeds that in the high pressure chamber, and means connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber.

11. The combination with a device that may serve either as a prime mover or as a fluid-compressor, of means for causing the function of said device to depend upon the speed of operation thereof.

12. A device having governing means responsive to the speed of operation thereof that causes the same to yield energy in a form that may be stored when operated above a predetermined speed, and to absorb the previously yielded energy for actuating the same as a prime mover at less than the said predetermined speed.

13. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, and a valve, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, 21 high pressure chamber, and means that govern communication of both ends of the cylinder therewith and with fluid at low pressure.

14. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, and a valve, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, a high pressure chamber, and means that govern communication of both ends of the cylinder therewith and with fluid at low pressure that are dependent in operation upon the fluidprcssure within the cylinder.

15. The combination with an engine cylinder, a piston, and a valve, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, a high pressure chamber, means that govern Communication of both ends ofthe cylinder therewith and with fluid at low pres sure, and means for connecting the valve chest with the high pressure chamber.

16. The combination with an engine cylinder. a piston, and a valve, of means for causing the travel of the valve to be dependent upon the speed of the piston, a high pressure chamber, means that permit communication of the ends of the cylinder therewith when the fluidpressurc therein exceeds a predetermined amount, and with fluid at low pressure when the pressure in the cylinder falls below a predetermined amount.

17. A device having governing means responsive to the speed of operation thereof that causes the same to either yield energy in a form that may be stored or to operate as a prime mover utilizing the previously yielded energy as the actuating means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of July, 1900.

FORD W. HARRIS.

Witnesses O'r'ro S. Sermnnnz, BIRNEY Hnvns. 

